On January 19, 2017 at approximately 3:16 p.m. Deputy S.P. Whitt and Deputy D.C. Reed responded to an unknown medical emergency at the 7-Eleven located at 201 Garrisonville Road. Upon arrival deputies observed a female who appeared to be passed out inside her vehicle. After tapping on the window the subject awoke and seemed confused and disoriented. She was identified as Britney Grant. Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and the female was taken into the ambulance for medical evaluation. As the subject was being evaluated, deputies were advised that Ms. Grant was wanted out of Spotsylvania and she was subsequently arrested.

A K-9 unit responded to the scene and performed a scan of the vehicle. The K-9 indicated the presence of narcotics. Deputy Whitt then searched the vehicle and recovered a plastic baggy containing a white powdery substance, foil wrappers containing brown powder, as well as drug paraphernalia.

Medical personnel transported Ms. Grant to the hospital where she was medically cleared.

Britney Belle Grant, age 25 of Fall Hill Avenue in Fredericksburg, VA, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Paraphernalia. She was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is held on no bond.

On January 18, 2017 at approximately 7:20 p.m. patrol units responded to a larceny in progress at the Walmart located at 217 Garrisonville Road. While en route, deputies were advised that two males had been observed shoplifting several items, including a Razor miniature dirt bike, and had left the parking lot in a gold four-door vehicle.

Sergeant D.R. Colona and Deputy B.M. Kanterman spotted a gold four-door Nissan sedan matching the description provided, leaving the parking lot and turning eastbound on Garrisonville Road. Sergeant Colona followed the car as it made an abrupt turn from Garrisonville Road into the 7-Eleven parking lot. As deputies made contact with the driver and passenger, they observed a miniature dirt bike, a new computer and a set of Rachel Ray Cookware in the backseat of the Nissan. The subjects were identified as Brian Gray and Lionel Green of Richmond. Both men were detained and interviewed. During the interview Mr. Green stated that the items in the car were not stolen and presented what appeared to be a receipt for a computer, Rachel Ray Cookware and comforters. Walmart’s Loss Prevention Officer responded and examined the document. He determined that it was not an actual Walmart receipt. After confronting the suspects with the facts, they admitted to printing fraudulent receipts in order to aid in the commission of the crimes. The total value of the merchandise stolen from the store was $1964.00.

Detectives responded to interview both subjects. Detective T.A. Covington interviewed Mr. Gray who admitted he and his partner arrived at the Garrisonville Walmart earlier in the day and purchased low dollar items. He then took the receipt to his car, scanned it into his computer and altered it to display higher priced items. He printed the new receipt, returned to the store and stole the items listed on the counterfeit receipt. His plan was, if any store employees stopped him as he exited the store, he would show them the look-alike receipt. He then would resell the stolen items to little corner stores or exchange them for drugs. It appears that Mr. Gray has been using this shoplifting method since 2009 at stores throughout Virginia, usually along Interstates 95 and 64.

Brian Edward Gray, age 48 of 37th Street in Richmond, VA, was charged with Grand Larceny, two counts of Conspiracy and Driving with a Suspended or Revoked License.

Lionel Green, age 43 of Front Street in Richmond, VA, was charged with Grand Larceny and two counts of Conspiracy.

Both men were incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and are being held on no bond.

The Stafford Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident that occurred at approximately 7:00 p.m. last evening in the 1900 block of Green Tree Road.

An altercation between two parties resulted in the death of a male subject.

The case is in the very early stages of investigation and there is nothing further to report at this time.

The Stafford Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting incident that occurred January 22, 2017 at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the 300 block of Madison Court in Stafford, VA.

Patrol units arrived on the scene and observed a wounded man lying on the ground. C.P.R. was administered to the victim until Emergency Medical Services arrived and transported him to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injury.

Witnesses reported hearing multiple gun shots and observed two males, wearing all black, fleeing the scene on foot. A black SUV also left the scene after the incident. A perimeter was established and K-9 tracks were attempted. There are no suspects identified at this time.

The victim is identified as Jorge Leonardo Melo, age 26 of Vista Woods Road in Stafford, VA.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Stafford Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate an incident that occurred on January 21, 2017 at approximately 7:03 p.m. in the 1900 block of Green Tree Road.

The investigation indicates that Bryan Hinckley and Clint Hill were involved in a physical altercation outside the apartment building. When patrol units arrived on the scene Mr. Hinckley was unconscious. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Bryan George Hinckley, age 35 lived on Lake View Drive, in Stafford, VA.

Clint Alan Hill, age 41, was arrested at his residence in the 2000 block of Green Tree Road on January 23, 2017 at approximately 12:50 a.m. Mr. Hill was charged with murder, was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is being held on no bond.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the January 22, 2017 shooting death of Jorge Melo on Madison Court. Two photos of Mr. Melo appear here. We are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying any persons who may have had affiliations with Mr. Melo or who may be responsible for his death. Anyone with ANY information is asked to contact the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4400. Stafford Crime Solvers is sharing resources with this investigation. Crime doesn’t pay – but Crime Solvers does. Contact Crime Solvers (where callers may remain anonymous) at 540-659-2020 or TEXT “Stafford” + your tip to CRIMES (274637).

On January 28, 2017 at approximately 3:50 p.m. Deputy N.C. Potter responded to a disturbance at the Lowe’s Home Improvement Store located at 299 Banks Ford Parkway. Upon arrival, the deputy was advised by loss prevention personnel that two males and a female subject were involved in a dispute. The deputy separated and interviewed the parties. He discovered that one of the male subjects had been hired by the couple to replace tile in a residential rental property.

The previous day the contractor, identified as Corey Estevez, had accompanied the female to Lowe’s where she purchased tile for approximately $700. Both parties had retained a copy of the receipt. Later that day the female returned to Lowe’s with her receipt to claim a military discount. She discovered some of the tile purchased earlier was returned for a refund. The female immediately advised Mr. Estevez, by text, to discontinue work on the project. The rental property tenants then contacted their landlord to inform them that Mr. Estevez was at the residence picking up the tile. The couple then drove to Lowe’s, found Mr. Estevez and confronted him about the theft. This interaction caused the disturbance.

Mr. Estevez was unable to provide any evidence or documentation to counteract the assertion. Video provided by loss prevention was reviewed by the deputy and further supported the couple’s claim.

Corey Alan Henry Estevez, age 28 of Comorn Road in King George, VA was charged with Grand Larceny, Obtaining Money by False Pretenses, Petit Larceny Third or Subsequent Offense and Larceny Third or Subsequent Conviction. He was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond.

On January 30, 2017 at approximately 11:18 p.m. patrol units responded to a domestic dispute on Ramoth Church Road. Upon arrival, Deputy A.J. Layug interviewed an adult male and an adult female as well as two juveniles. It was learned that one of the juveniles in the residence had discovered a plate with powdery substances on it and told the adult female. Suspecting drug activity, the female decided to hide the plate. When the male was unable to locate it, he began causing a disturbance.

Deputies recovered a plate with blue and white powdery substances on it. The suspect, Christopher Wayne Scruggs was taken into custody and when he was searched a blue pill was recovered. Mr. Scruggs identified the pill and the blue powder on the plate as Xanax and stated that he did not have a prescription for the medication. The white powder Mr. Scruggs identified as Opana.

Christopher Wayne Scruggs, age 36 of Ramoth Church Road in Stafford VA, was charged with two counts of Possession of Controlled Substances. He was incarcerated in the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

On January 31, 2017 at approximately 9:45 a.m. Deputy C.D. Brown responded to a larceny at the Lowe’s Home Improvement Store located at 299 Banks Ford Parkway. Upon arrival, Deputy Brown was advised that loss prevention personnel had witnessed a male remove multiple security tags from merchandise and place the items in his coat pocket. Store employees observed the male pass all points of sale with the concealed items. The suspect was detained until patrol units arrived.

Deputy Brown interviewed the male and identified him as Daniel Cook. Mr. Cook admitted to the incident and offered to pay for the merchandise. Deputy Brown then asked Mr. Cook how he arrived at the store. Mr. Cook stated that a friend had provided transportation and that his wife was to pick him up. Deputy Brown doubted that statement and asked to view available store video to confirm his suspicion. The video clearly showed Mr. Cook arriving in a black Ford Escape that was still parked in the lot. Deputy Brown inspected the vehicle and could easily view a wide variety of tools inside. Deputy Brown obtained permission to search the vehicle and recovered unopened merchandise that Lowe’s routinely sells. Drug paraphernalia was also recovered in the search.

Daniel Allen Cook, age 32 of Stony Hill Road in Stafford, VA, was charged with Felony Shoplifting and was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $1500 secured bond.

On January 17, 2017 at approximately 2:26 p.m. Deputy J.A. Mangan responded to a reported vandalism that had occurred at the 7-Eleven on Garrisonville Road. The victim explained she was pumping gas and a male subject approached her car and stated that she had stolen his cell phone. When she declared she didn’t know what he was talking about, the male subject hit the windshield with his hand and shattered it. He got in the passenger side of a white vehicle and was driven away. The victim followed the male to Garrison Woods where she observed him exit the vehicle. She then contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Mangan interviewed the victim and witnesses. He soon learned that the suspect was Prentice Juggins. Deputy Mangan obtained a warrant for Mr. Juggins’ arrest.

On February 1, 2017 at approximately 3:28 p.m. Deputy Mangan and other patrol deputies responded to a shots fired call in the area of Garrison Woods. A neighbor reported hearing a single shot from a nearby apartment and further stated that a male and female were heard screaming inside. Deputies attempted contact with those inside the apartment. After approximately 20 minutes a female answered the door and was identified. She was known to associate with Mr. Juggins. When asked if Mr. Juggins was in the residence she advised that he was not. Patrol deputies requested permission to search the apartment. The female agreed to the search and Mr. Juggins was found hiding behind a couch. As Mr. Juggins was being taken into custody, he resisted but was subdued without injury.

Prentice Kasaun Juggins, age 25 of Hope Road in Stafford VA, was charged with Escape by Force, Obstruction of Justice and Destruction of Property. He was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is held on no bond.

On February 1, 2017 at approximately 7 p.m. Deputy B.U. Demirci was off-duty. He was traveling southbound on U.S. Route 1 in his personal vehicle when he observed a dark-colored sedan make a U-turn prior to the Aquia Town Center entrance. While completing the turn the sedan struck the driver’s side of a silver van causing significant damage to both vehicles. The sedan continued south and Deputy Demirci followed at a safe distance as he called the Emergency Communications Center to have an ambulance dispatched and report the incident. While behind the vehicle Deputy Demirci observed the driver fail to maintain the vehicle in the proper driving lane. The driver then pulled into Aquia Park, exited his vehicle to inspect the damage and resumed his trip northbound on U.S. Route 1. The driver turned west on Garrisonville Road and patrol units arrived while the vehicle was stopped at the traffic light at Salisbury Drive.

Deputy C.L. McCormick approached the suspect and detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage. Deputy McCormick identified the man as Steven Elliott. Mr. Elliott was interviewed, but due to his apparent excessive inebriation, and out of concern for his personal safety, field sobriety tests were not conducted.

Deputy B.M. Kanterman responded to the accident scene at Aquia Town Center and determined that two separate traffic accidents occurred that were caused by Mr. Elliott.

Steven Douglas Elliott, age 37 of Barksdale Place in Stafford VA, was charged with two counts of Hit and Run/Property Damage and Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. He was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men charged in the shooting death of Jorge Leonardo Melo that occurred on January 22, 2017. On February 3, 2017 at approximately 7:00 p.m. Juan Pablo Rubio, age 21, was arrested on Whitson’s Run during the execution of a search warrant that was served at the address. On February 4, 2017 at approximately 2:00 p.m. Ronald Antonio Silvestre Torres, age 23, was arrested on Eustace Road after being spotted by Stafford Detectives and Deputies who were surveilling the area. Both men are currently charged with First Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. They are incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond.

The nearly two week investigation into the death of Jorge Melo started with no leads or suspects. It was led by Stafford Detectives Barry Surles and Todd Nosal. Numerous other detectives, patrol deputies and SWAT Team members worked tirelessly to identify and apprehend the suspects. These efforts paid off last evening and today resulting in the execution of multiple search warrants as well as the arrest of the suspects. “I am grateful for the remarkable and unwavering devotion of our personnel,” said Sheriff D.P. Decatur.

The Stafford Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the Prince William County Police Department and the Maryland State Police.

On November 29, 2016, Deputy J.J. Kreider and Sergeant E.D. Chinault responded to larceny calls at Panera Bread locations at 24 South Gateway Drive and 1005 Stafford Marketplace, respectively. In both instances, the victims advised their wallets were stolen and a credit card was used at nearby Target stores. Still photos of a female who was using the credit card were obtained and a video also revealed a male and female leaving the Target parking lot in a beige-colored sedan.

Detective A.R. Spotts began investigating the case and soon learned the same suspects had engaged in similar acts throughout Northern Virginia. Utilizing registration information provided by the Fairfax County Police Department, Detective Spotts determined the perpetrator used a vehicle rented from a company based in Washington D.C. Detective Spotts visited the rental establishment and located the automobile used in the Fairfax incident. Several unused Visa gift cards were recovered from the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that the female suspect rented the sedan, using an identity not of her own. The female then traveled to Stafford to commit the crime.

On December 16, 2016, Fairfax County Police Department detectives identified Chaquita Lanise Speight as the suspect after searching a rental car she and a companion failed to return. Following the execution of a search warrant, Speight and her associate were arrested near a Panera Bread in Fairfax County. Following the apprehension, Speight confessed to her involvement in numerous larcenies and credit card crimes committed throughout the region.

On February 6, 2017, Chaquita Speight was indicted by a Stafford County Grand Jury on charges of Petit Larceny, Grand Larceny, Credit Card Larceny, Credit Card Fraud, Identity Theft, Obtaining Money/Good/Services by False Pretense, Forgery and Uttering.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following agencies and businesses for assistance with this case: Fairfax County Police Department, Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, City of Manassas Police Department, Prince William County Police Department, City of Fredericksburg Police Department, Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, Target and Panera Bread.

On February 5, 2017, at approximately 4:20 p.m. Deputy D.C. Reed responded to a disturbance at Fatty’s Crab House located at 225 Garrisonville Road. An employee advised that a male subject had entered the business carrying an alcoholic beverage, and was asked to leave. This upset the subject and he began creating a disturbance outside the business by cursing and yelling at employees. The subject then attempted to jump over the guardrail leading to an approximate twenty foot drop onto the Walmart parking lot below. Employees prevented this act and held the subject until Deputy Reed’s arrival.

Deputy Reed identified and interviewed the subject and the witnesses. The male was found to be heavily intoxicated as well as wanted on an outstanding Stafford warrant.

Brian Joshua Deane, age 26 of Melrose Avenue in Triangle, VA, was charged with Public Intoxication in addition to a Capias for Failure to Appear for charges stemming from a 2016 Grand Larceny, Conspiracy and Concealment incident. He was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is held on no bond.

On February 6, 2017, at approximately 10:22 a.m. Deputy B.U. Demirci responded to a suspected drunk driver in the parking lot of Shopper’s Food Warehouse located at 1505 Stafford Market Place. A witness reported a white male in a silver Ford Explorer drive back and forth into the same parking space approximately fifteen times. Upon arrival, Deputy Demirci observed the driver stopped at a stop sign for no apparent reason. The subject gestured to the deputy indicating his intention to pull over and then ran his front tire over the curb. Deputy Demirci approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Jacob Skarin from an Ohio Identification Card.

Deputy Demirci asked Mr. Skarin to exit the vehicle and immediately observed a glass smoking device containing residue inside the vehicle. Based upon that observation, Mr. Skarin was detained and a search of his person and the vehicle was conducted. In addition to the smoking device, a syringe was also recovered from under the seat of the Ford Explorer. Additionally, the identification card provided to the deputy was found to be fictitious.

Jacob Lynn Skarin, age 26 of Botts Avenue in Woodbridge VA, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of a Fictitious Identification Card. He was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on bond.

On February 7, 2017 at approximately 9:30 p.m. Deputy N.C. Potter was dispatched to a report of a domestic assault that had past occurred between a male and female on Charter Gate Drive in Stafford. Upon arrival he spoke with the female subject who reported that earlier that day she had driven to her ex-boyfriends residence to retrieve some personal belongings. She had her one-year-old child in the car with her at the time. While at the residence, the ex-boyfriend identified as Chase Rook, became so irate that he attempted to rip the car window out of its frame. When she exited her vehicle in an attempt to calm the situation, he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the vehicle. Mr. Rook then threw the victim inside the car with enough force that she landed in the passenger’s seat. He then entered the vehicle and drove away with the child and the victim inside. He was driving recklessly as he turned down Village Parkway and proceeded on U.S. Route 17 toward Fauquier County. She asked him numerous times return home and let them out of the vehicle but Mr. Rook became increasingly outraged. He repeatedly called her names, hit her, ripped her necklace off and threatened her and the child with bodily injury.

He refused to go back to his residence until she promised not to contact law enforcement about the incident. She agreed and they returned to the location where the domestic began. She contacted the Sheriff’s Office later in the evening.

Deputy Potter observed marks on the victim which indicated she had been choked and struck. The Deputy obtained numerous felony and misdemeanor warrants as well as an Emergency Protective Order. He then arrested Mr. Rook at his residence without incident.

Chase Alexander Rook, age 21 of Charter Gate Drive in Stafford, VA was charged with two counts of Abduction, Strangulation, Assault and Battery, Reckless Driving, Destruction of Property and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. He was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond.

On February 11, 2017 at approximately 6:20 p.m. Deputy L.A. Burgess responded to a domestic dispute on Fiddlers Court. Upon arrival, Deputy Burgess encountered an adult male, an adult female and a juvenile. Deputy Burgess learned that the male was supposed to have moved out of the residence during the day, but began drinking alcohol instead. During an ensuing argument, the male subject shoved the female. The male was identified as Michael Hayes. Mr. Hayes was interviewed and taken into custody.

Michael Lee Hayes, age 41 of Fiddlers Court in Stafford VA, was charged with Domestic Assault and Battery. He was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on an unsecured bond.